Ashoka Helps Tsunami Victims

Ashoka Fellows, leveraging their existing entrepreneurial networks, are forming super networks to respond to the crisis in Asia. These networks exponentially increase the impact and reach of on-the-ground efforts through centralization, collaboration, and shared expertise. All Fellows are working on the local level and demonstrate the incredible potential for local people to do something substantial through their knowledge of what items are needed most, where, and how to get them there.
Within the Ashoka fellowship are amazing resources - Fellows who work in disaster relief, with displaced persons, in health and housing, in education, and in other related fields that will feel the effects of this crisis over the next months and years. The Ashoka fellowship has mobilized across the region to address the direct and indirect effects of the earthquake and resulting tsunami.
An example of this can be seen in Aceh, the closest land to the epicentre of the earthquake. Ashoka Fellows Amir Panzuri, Eko Teguh, Idham Ibty, Imam Azis, Muslikhin Kusma, Setyo, and We Es have organized and launched ACEH SEHATI (ONE HEART FOR ACEH) a disaster-relief operation in Indonesia. They developed the plans and the organization literally overnight to deliver a three part solution:
Immediate local relief for women and children in Indonesia in terms of food, shelter, and clothing;
Interim housing and resettlement solutions; and
long-term solutions addressing the permanent impacts to the region, including orphaned children and displaced families.
Investing in Ashoka Fellows (see the box below for some of the Ashoka Fellows working in relief operations) entails several advantages, including:
They have costs unimaginably below foreign operations and in any case propose to absorb all expenses;
They know the area and are experts at navigating its very difficult political environment (including the civil war in Aceh) whereas all outsiders so far have been frustrated in whole or in part;
They are smart, savvy, creative people with strong, motivated, honest organizations;
They will be there for the long term.
It is important to note that Ashoka Fellows working in disaster relief are primarily focused on structural change versus short-term distribution of supplies and that most are not from Aceh proper. (However, the work will soon turn to building for the future, i.e., what must come after relief and most of the expat organizations are weak here.)
Ashoka Fellows need your help to mobilize support and relief for their communities (click here to contribute). 100% of all funds donated through this link will be given directly to Ashoka Fellows working on disaster relief in the affected areas (especially children and families in Sri Lanka and Indonesia). You may also email us at tsunamirelief@ashoka.org to offer specific aid.